AppleTalk net cable

[Nathan]

Not sure on the date, but I ran across the following yesterday.

http://www.tmetz.net/os/Apple/Inside_AppleTalk.pdf

That might be useful. Appendix A: LocalTalk Hardware Specifications begins on page 520 of the PDF.

So, I take it that for a proper network you need the little adapter boxes one way or the other? The advantage of PhoneNET being that you don't need the special 3pin miniDIN cables?

 

[Cory5412]

Yeah, either APple's own localtalk adapters or the phonenet adapters. And, the advantage of phonenet is absolutely the cheaper and easier-to-get wiring. Apple's own wiring system has some neat functions - like, you don't need special terminators  or to complete the loop, and you can leave unoccupied boxes in spots without the network going down.

Here's the user guide to the Apple's wiring system: https://vintageapple.org/macmanuals/pdf/Apple_LocalTalk_Cable_System_Owners_Guide_1987.pdf

 

[LaPorta]

We never completed the loop with our phonenet connectors, and 9/10 times we never had the terminators...worked fine.

 

[ScutBoy]

I don't think you are supposed to have a closed loop. In fact, page 9 of the manual upthread says "always a line, never a circle".

 

[Cory5412]

Hm. I'll have to take a look, then. I've got an ET/LT adapter and one phonenet adapter that I wanted to use but something's been going sideways when I try. (Like, the machine crashes). It might just be something misconfigured in the software, but, it's weird because I can do a single serial cable LT network fine on that machine. 

That could also be weirdness introduced by that particular ET/LT bridge, too.

It's been just shy of fifteen years since I had any localtalk gear active, and I know i have some of the terminators.

To be clear: To the best of my recollection, only phonenet networks had terminators. Apple's own connectors had termination built in.

 

[sfiera]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/HecLqe9TL4PecqKW8

In the end, it was easy (as might be expected). Mostly it was a matter of getting an English OS on the Plus so I could navigate it. Haven’t yet tried the LocalTalk Bridge software.

I’m still interested in knowing if there’s any way to snoop on the traffic.